Gavin Gunning has talked about what changes he believes need to be made to the Swindon Town squad to improve next season.

Swindon have had a hugely disappointing season as after going nine games unbeaten to begin the season, they are now on course for the club’s worst-ever season as they sit 18th in League Two and are 12 points from the relegation zone and 13 points from the play-offs with eight games remaining.

Gunning was asked about what would be required for Swindon to arrest their slide down the table and be able to compete next season.

He said: “In this league, I think that anybody can beat anybody and you have seen that already, every game is a tough game whether you are home or away.

“I think that there is minimal difference in the players from the top end to the bottom, there is that little bit of quality is maybe why the ones are at the top and the ones are at the bottom.

“It is about having that mindset as well and creating that environment to thrive rather than having a lacklustre environment.

“Team spirit is a big part of it too, those teams who have a big group of senior players, whereas here we have one or two maybe.

“I think that the team does need some experience, you have got Charlie [Austin] with a load of appearances and I don’t think there is anybody bar Charlie.

“It is an inexperienced squad and I definitely think that it does need some, there is no point in getting guys who have been journeymen and are finishing up and have no drive, you have to get the right characters and blend to it, but you do need some experience.”

Gunning also discussed the makeup of Swindon’s midfield this season and the lack of a physical presence in midfield, which he admitted meant he had to look for different solutions.

He said: “We don’t have someone who sits there and breaks it up, who is big and aggressive and that is just how it is sometimes.

“You can’t just use excuses, you need to look for a solution and put someone else in there who can manipulate it a different way, because you know they are not going to break it up and be a physical presence.

“They might have to manipulate the ball a bit better.”